Campanula Patula
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Campanula patula Status Differentiation from similar species UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority species. Most other Campanula species in Britain have larger, Nationally Scarce. bell-shaped flowers. The species most likely to be IUCN threat category: Endangered (2005). confused with C. patula are: Taxonomy • C. persicifolia which has flowers mostly more Magnoliopsida: Campanulaceae than 3 cm long. Scientific name: Campanula patula L. • C. rapunculus which has basal and lower stem Common names: leaves suddenly narrowing at their base into the Spreading Bellflower, stalk rather than narrowing gradually, and a Clychlys Lledaenol. narrow, more columnar inflorescence. There are 16 species of Campanula in Britain of which • The very common C. rotundifolia which has only five are native. Members of the genus have blue generally smaller, nodding flowers and to purple (rarely albino) bell-shaped flowers which heart-shaped basal leaves (the stem leaves are have a lobed calyx behind and an inferior ovary. often narrow and oblong and quite different in shape). Biology & Distribution It is a biennial herb of sunny, well-drained sites on • The two garden plants, C. poscharskyana and C. infertile sandy or gravelly soils and is found in open portenshlagiana, which have heart-shaped leaves. woodland, wood borders, hedgebanks and on banks and rock outcrops. Disturbance is needed for the Key characters germination of the seeds, which are long-lived, often Usually biennial to 60 cm tall, without non-flowering resulting in reappearance of the species after a long rosettes at base of flowering stem. Basal leaves absence. obovate to oblong, gradually narrowing into an indistinct petiole. Stem-leaves linear to obovate. In Britain C. patula mainly occurs in the southern Inflorescence widely spreading. Calyx-lobes linear Welsh borders, with scattered localities in SE England. to lanceolate, entire or with 1-2 small teeth at base. It is also introduced elsewhere (Preston et al. 2002). It Corollas mostly 15-25 mm, cut to about half way. has a continental distribution in W. Europe. Stigmas less than half as long as style. Capsule with pores in apical half. The decline of C. patula has been apparent since the 1950s. It has disappeared from many sites due to References the cessation of coppicing and other disturbance in Preston, C.D., Pearman, D. A. & Dines, T. D. eds. woodland, and the increased use of herbicides on (2002). New Atlas of the British & Irish flora. roadsides and railway banks. Oxford University Press, Oxford. Stewart, A., Pearman, D. A. & Preston, C.D. eds. Identification & Field survey (1994). Scarce Plants in Britain. JNCC, Campanula patula is relatively easily distinguished Peterborough. by its narrow leaves, widely spreading inflorescence with stalked flowers 15-25 mm long with spreading lobes which are cut to about half way down the flower, and the fruiting capsules which have pores near the apex. The calyx has 5 narrow lobes, which are entire or with 1-2 small basal teeth, and they do not have small reflexed appendages between them. The lower stem leaves may be difficult to see late in the season as they wither away. Calyx-lobes linear to lanceolate Corolla 15-25 mm long Corolla cut to about half way Inflorescence spreading Non-flowering Basal leaves rosettes absent gradually narrowing at base Figure 1. Illustration of key features (from J. E. Smith & J. Sowerby (1852). English Botany. London).